Halloween in Scandinavia
Only celebrated across Scandinavia since the early 1900s, Halloween has quickly become a blend of spooky fun and age-old tradition
Coinciding with the school autumn break and a welcoming distraction from the ever-lengthening dark nights, our Scandinavian friends have fully embraced the scary costumes, sweet treats and, of course, pumpkins. So mcuh so that on the Swedish island of Öland in the southern Baltic Sea, the arrival of Halloween has led to a surge of pumpkin growing, while Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens is now taken over by spooky spiders, cawing crows and more than 20,000 lanterns. But don't worry, if you're not brave enough to experience the thrilling rides, there's also open-air stalls, spell-binding illuminations and the 'Monster Night Out' parade.
On a more traditional note, every Scandinavian country observes All Saints' Day at this time of year too. Held between 31 October and 6 November, people light candles and lay flowers for lost loved ones and gather together with friends and family to remember them over a seasonal meal.
